2,715 hits. A .289 career batting average, with 1,208 RBIs, 1,077 runs scored, 498 doubles, 174 home runs, 450 walks drawn, just 453 strikeouts, and a career fielding percentage of .991 over 20 years from 1970-90. And one play in 1986, when his ankles were giving out on him so badly he had to wear hightop shoes, and Mookie Wilson's grounder rolled through his legs at 1st base in Game 6. The Red Sox, up 3 games to 2, lost game 6 on that play, then lost game 7 and the series.

It's very doubtful that Buckner could have reached 1st base before Wilson, even if he had stopped that ball. Nor would I give good odds that in a magical do-over world, the Sox could have escaped the resulting bases-loaded jam in a 10th inning tie game that was already falling apart on them. And of course, they had every chance to go out and win Game 7. Did they? No.

Even so, it's that one play that came to define Bill Buckner - not just in baseball, but for life. He ended up moving his family to Idaho to escape, but never really did. Until... until last night's 2008 Fenway Park home opener, when he was invited to come and throw out the first pitch for the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.

The standing ovation lasted 4 minutes (see video). And at long, long last, another curse was laid to its rest.